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Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90 Production Delayed

Production of the Polestar 3 electric SUV is being pushed back to 2024 due to software issues

Polestar 3 profile
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    Nick Kurczewski has been writing about cars for more than 20 years, and his enthusiasm for journalism has led him to cover auto-related stories around the world. From blasting down the German autobahn to covering every major auto show, his stories have appeared in the New York Times, Car and Driver, U.S. News & World Report, Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com and the New York Daily News, where he served as head editor. Having once aspired to be a Formula One racer, Nick discovered sharing his passion for cars as a journalist is just as thrilling as dreaming of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.
  • Production of the Polestar 3 electric SUV is now scheduled to begin in early 2024.
  • This same production delay affects the Volvo EX90 electric SUV. The two EVs share the same architecture.
  • The first Polestar 3s will be built in China until Volvo and Polestar's new assembly plant in South Carolina takes over production for the U.S. market.

Production of the upcoming Polestar 3 electric crossover and Volvo’s EX90 three-row electric SUV are being delayed due to issues related to the software used in each of these Swedish EVs. The two vehicles share the same platform and, it seems, they also share a glitch that requires more testing and is pushing their on-sale dates back by months. Both vehicles are slated to enter production in the first few months of 2024, with sales to begin sometime in the second quarter.

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Polestar 3 profile

This marks the second time the Polestar 3 has seen its production timetable pushed back. Most recent estimates pegged the Polestar 3’s production for mid-2023, with the first models being built in China. Eventually, Polestar and Volvo’s new assembly plant located near Charleston, South Carolina, will build the Polestar 3 for the U.S. and markets other than China.

News of the delay was first reported by Automotive News. AN also noted Polestar would be eliminating jobs — roughly 300 staff in total — and lowering sales targets for the 2023 model year. Approximately 10% of Polestar’s workforce will be terminated, and the electric automaker’s 2023 sales goal has been revised to 60,000-70,000 vehicles, versus 80,000 units previously.

2024 Polestar 3 rear

The Polestar 3 is vitally important to the fledgling EV automaker as it tries to gain a foothold in the U.S. market amid growing competition from the likes of BMW, Audi, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and, of course, Tesla Motors. At the moment, Polestar’s only offering here is the Polestar 2, a high-riding electric sedan with a starting price around $50,000.

Stretching about 193 inches long, the Polestar 3 is more than half a foot longer than the 2023 Volvo XC60 sport crossover. It has a dual-motor powertrain and an estimated driving range of 270 to 300 miles depending on the powertrain, trim and battery pack.

2024 Volvo EX90 front

The Polestar 3 base price is estimated to start at approximately $85,000. That’s about the same asking price expected for the Volvo EX90, which is an all-electric equivalent of Volvo's three-row XC90 crossover. The EX90 will have room for seven and feature all-wheel drive and a targeted range of 300 miles.

Edmunds says

Electric vehicles remain a new technology and delays are common. But with more and more competition, these pauses can make or break a fledgling EV brand like Polestar. On the other hand, the only thing worse than a delay in production and sales is if a vehicle comes to market riddled with mechanical flaws or tech gremlins.

Nick Kurczewskiby

Nick Kurczewski has been writing about cars for more than 20 years, and his enthusiasm for journalism has led him to cover auto-related stories around the world. From blasting down the German autobahn to covering every major auto show, his stories have appeared in the New York Times, Car and Driver, U.S. News & World Report, Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com and the New York Daily News, where he served as head editor. Having once aspired to be a Formula One racer, Nick discovered sharing his passion for cars as a journalist is just as thrilling as dreaming of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.

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